KS2: Antibiotics
In this lesson, through teacher-led discussion and debate, students learn the importance of using antibiotics and other medicines appropriately.
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Learning objectives
- Understand how the body fights infections, the role of antibiotics in treating bacterial infections, and the importance of using medicines responsibly to support personal and public health.
Background Information
The body has many natural defences to help fight against harmful microbes that can cause infection. However, in some cases, microbes can cross these barriers and enter our bodies. The majority of the time the immune system defeats any harmful microbes entering the body, however, in some cases the immune system needs help.
Antibiotics are special medicines used to treat bacterial diseases, such as meningitis, tuberculosis and pneumonia. They do not harm viruses or fungi. Some antibiotics stop the bacteria reproducing and others kill the bacteria.
In this lesson plan, students explore how infection prevention can avoid the need for antibiotics, and how our immune system will often fight off infection without antibiotics. Through the use of comic strips, students are introduced to the importance of only using antibiotics as prescribed by a doctor.
Activities
Main activity:- Comic Strip
- Antibiotics Flashcards
- Word Mix Up
Curriculum links
Curriculum Key Elements
- Personal Health and Moral Character
Curriculum Skills
- Communication
- Thinking
- Problem Solving and Decision Making
- Working with Others
Curriculum Areas of Learning
- Personal Development and Mutual Understanding (PDMU)
- The World Around Us (TWAU)